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Ferris and Long Feature in ASX Opener

CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris and Dylan Long have both made enterprising starts to their 2017 Australian Supercross Championship campaign after they both featured in the results at round one of the championship conducted at Jimboomba, on Saturday Night.

Despite a lead up to the opening round that has seen Ferris juggle honing his skills on a tight, jump infested supercross as well as continue his preparations to represent Australia at the Motocross of Nations in England this weekend, Ferris raced to an impressive second place in the 20 lap SX1 main event.

Debuting the 2018 YZ450F, Ferris again showed his determination and tenacity when he moved his way forward in the early stages of the main event before entering into a race long dual with Dan Reardon as they fought over second and third place.

US Import Justin Brayton had moved clear of the tussling duo as all eyes from the near capacity crowd were on Ferris and Reardon. Ferris made a move past Reardon and to temporally steal second place before Reardon retaliated a few turns later.

Ferris regrouped before mounting another charge and with the help of some lapped traffic was able to make the pass stick and hold onto second place for a great start to the championship and mirror his second place at the 2016 event.

“I didn’t feel great on the track all afternoon but I was able to get focussed before final and turn things around which was pleasing,” Ferris explains. "It was our first race on the new bike and both Dylan and I were right there at the start and it works unbeliveably well on the track.

“Dan and I had a great race and it was a shame we just let Justin get away in those early laps. It’s the same podium as we had here last year and the three of us had some awesome races in 2016 so hopefully it’s the same this year as I enjoy racing with both these guys.

“I have the Motocross of Nations this weekend so once that is done I can focus solely on Supercross and start to make some big improvements,” he ends.

Dylan Long finished the night in seventh place and showed enough speed to prove he can be a podium contender in future rounds. Long got a great start in the main event and was leading the race before falling and dropping down the field.

He quickly picked himself up and began to claw back as many positions as possible. He roared through the field to take seventh and less than one second behind the sixth-place rider. But it was a promising start to the championship campaign and one that he can build on in future rounds.

“While the result wasn’t great, I felt like I rode pretty well and the new 2018 YZ450F was awesome. Apart from the one fall at the start of the main event, my laps were good and fitness has been the best it’s been all year.

“Next round the aim is to improve on tonight and if I get another start like that, capitalise on it and get myself onto the podium in a mistake free race.

“Thank you to the CDR Yamaha team and the promoters for a great night in front of a big crowd,” Long said.